Katerina Swanson
Fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, have dominated the US energy mix for over a century. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production. While the mix has changed over time, burning fossil fuels remains the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. This text seeks to explore the daily consumption of fossil fuels in the USA, examining the quantities burned and their environmental impact.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Fossil fuel energy consumption in 2023 | 77.2 quadrillion British thermal units |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption in 2020 | 72.9 quadrillion British thermal units |
| Percentage decrease in fossil fuel consumption from 2019 to 2020 | 9% |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption peak year | 2018 |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption in 2018 | 81.28 quadrillion British thermal units |
| Percentage of fossil fuel energy consumption from petroleum products in 2020 | 44% |
| Percentage of fossil fuel energy consumption from natural gas in 2020 | 43% |
| Percentage of fossil fuel energy consumption from coal in 2020 | 19% |
| Percentage of fossil fuel energy consumption from oil in 2023 | 38% |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption by the transportation sector in 2020 | 68% |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption by the electric power sector in 2020 | 38% |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption by the residential and commercial sectors in 2020 | Over 80% |
| Fossil fuel energy consumption by the industrial sector for non-combustion purposes in 2020 | N/A |
| Total primary energy consumption in the USA in 2023 | 94 quadrillion British thermal units |
| Percentage of total primary energy production from fossil fuels in 2023 | 84% |
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What You'll Learn
Fossil fuel consumption in the USA fell by 9% in 2020
Petroleum products, such as motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil (diesel), and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), played a significant role in the decline. Together, they accounted for 44% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020. The transportation sector, a major consumer of petroleum, experienced a notable drop in activity due to pandemic-related restrictions. As a result, US petroleum consumption fell by 13% compared to 2019.
Natural gas reached a record-high annual share of 43% in 2020. This was largely due to its extensive use in the electric power sector, where it accounted for 38% of total natural gas consumption for electricity generation and heating. Despite this increase in the electric power sector, overall US natural gas consumption still decreased by 2% compared to the previous year.
Coal consumption also witnessed a significant decline, falling to 13% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, the lowest annual share since 1949. The electric power sector, which consumes about 90% of total coal consumption, has steadily moved away from coal-based electricity generation over the past decade. As a result, coal consumption in the US decreased by 19% in 2020, marking the largest annual decrease on record.
Nonfuel use of fossil fuels, which includes their direct consumption as construction materials, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, solvents, and waxes, accounted for approximately 8% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020. HGLs were responsible for 48% of this nonfuel use.
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Fossil fuels are the largest driver of climate change
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has found that emissions from fossil fuels are the dominant cause of global warming. In 2018, 89% of global CO2 emissions came from fossil fuels and industry. Fossil fuels account for over 75% of global greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 90% of all carbon dioxide emissions. As greenhouse gas emissions blanket the Earth, they trap the sun's heat, leading to global warming and climate change. The average global temperature has already increased by 1°C, and global temperatures passed the critical 1.5°C milestone for the first time in 2024.
The burning of fossil fuels is the primary cause of current climate change, altering the Earth's ecosystems and causing human and environmental health problems. The effects of burning fossil fuels are far-reaching, with global temperatures rising faster than at any point in recorded history. Warmer temperatures are changing weather patterns, increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, and disrupting the usual balance of nature. This poses risks to human beings and all other forms of life on Earth, including food scarcity, worsening health, and poverty for millions worldwide.
The United States, like many other countries, relies heavily on fossil fuels for its energy needs. Fossil fuels accounted for about 84% of total US primary energy production in 2023, with petroleum, natural gas, and coal being the main sources. In 2020, total US consumption of fossil fuels fell to 72.9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), a 9% decrease from 2019 and the lowest level in nearly 30 years. This decrease was largely due to the economic responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in a 15% reduction in the energy consumption of the transportation sector.
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Fossil fuels are used for electricity, heat, and transportation
Fossil fuels are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States. In 2023, the US consumed approximately 77.2 quadrillion British thermal units of energy derived from fossil fuels. This accounted for about 84% of the country's total primary energy production. Fossil fuels are used in a variety of ways in the US, with the three main uses being electricity, heat, and transportation.
Electricity
Fossil fuels are the dominant source of electricity in the US, accounting for about 60% of the country's electricity generation in 2023. The main fossil fuels used for electricity generation are coal, natural gas, and petroleum. In 2023, the US generated about 4.18 trillion kilowatthours of electricity, with fossil fuels providing about 2.5 trillion kilowatthours of this total. The US has seen a decrease in fossil fuel consumption in recent years, with renewable energy sources gaining traction. However, fossil fuels continue to play a significant role in electricity generation.
Heat
Fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, are also used for heating in the US. Natural gas consumption has been increasing in the country, and in 2023, it accounted for about 36% of total US primary energy consumption. Fossil fuels are burned to generate heat for residential, commercial, and industrial buildings.
Transportation
The transportation sector is a major consumer of fossil fuels in the US. Oil is the primary energy source for this sector, as it is refined into petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel. Over 94% of the fuel used for transportation is petroleum-based. The transportation sector is the largest source of direct greenhouse gas emissions in the US due to the burning of these fossil fuels.
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Fossil fuel consumption is measured in British thermal units (BTUs)
Fossil fuel consumption is measured in British thermal units (Btu), a measure of heat energy commonly used in the United States to compare different types of energy. The British thermal unit is defined as the amount of heat energy required to raise the temperature of one pound of water by one degree Fahrenheit. One Btu is roughly equivalent to 1,055 joules, the SI unit for energy.
In 2023, the total primary energy consumption in the United States was approximately 94 quadrillion Btu, with fossil fuels accounting for about 84% of this total. This equates to roughly 77.2 quadrillion Btus of fossil fuels consumed in the US in 2023, a decrease of 1.7% from the previous year. The three major forms of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas, which are the primary sources of energy in the country.
In 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, total fossil fuel consumption in the US fell to 72.9 quadrillion Btus, a 9% decrease from 2019 and the lowest level in almost 30 years. This drop was driven by a 15% reduction in the energy consumption of the transportation sector, as well as warmer weather, which reduced the demand for heating fuels.
Petroleum products, including gasoline, diesel, and hydrocarbon gas liquids, made up 44% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020, with the transportation sector accounting for 68% of this. Natural gas, predominantly used in the residential and commercial sectors for space heating, accounted for 43%, while coal made up the remainder.
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Fossil fuel consumption varies by sector
Fossil fuel consumption varies across sectors in the United States. The transportation sector, which relies heavily on petroleum-based motor fuels, is the largest consumer of primary fossil fuel energy. In 2023, the sector consumed over 26.1 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of fossil fuel energy. This is a decrease from 2019, when the transportation sector accounted for about 68% of total petroleum consumption. Petroleum products, including motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil (diesel), and hydrocarbon gas liquids (HGLs), made up 44% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020.
The electric power sector is another major consumer of fossil fuels, with natural gas and coal being the primary sources of electricity generation. In 2020, the electric power sector accounted for a record-high 38% of total natural gas consumption. However, fossil fuel consumption within this sector has been declining in recent years, coinciding with a decrease in US electricity generation from coal.
The residential and commercial sectors also contribute to fossil fuel consumption, with natural gas being the predominant fuel source for space heating. In 2020, over 80% of the fossil fuel energy directly consumed in these sectors was natural gas.
It is worth noting that non-fuel use of fossil fuels, such as in construction materials, chemical feedstocks, lubricants, solvents, and waxes, accounted for about 8% of US fossil fuel consumption in 2020.
Overall, fossil fuels—including petroleum, natural gas, and coal—have dominated the US energy mix for over a century. In 2023, they accounted for approximately 84% of total primary energy production, with petroleum contributing about 38%, natural gas 36%, and coal the remainder.
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Frequently asked questions
I cannot find the exact amount of fossil fuels burned daily in the USA. However, I can provide some statistics on the country's fossil fuel consumption. In 2023, the USA's fossil fuel consumption was 77.2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu), down from 81.28 quadrillion Btu in 2018. In 2020, the USA's fossil fuel consumption fell to 72.9 quadrillion Btu, a 9% decrease from 2019 and the lowest level in almost 30 years.
The three major sources of fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. In 2023, fossil fuels accounted for 60% of US energy production, with petroleum products (motor gasoline, distillate fuel oil, and hydrocarbon gas liquids) accounting for 44% of fossil fuel consumption, and natural gas accounting for 43%.
Fossil fuels are used for energy production, transportation, and as feedstock in the petrochemical industry. They are also used for non-fuel purposes, such as in the production of plastics and chemicals.
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere, a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming and climate change. Fossil fuels are also a major source of local air pollution, which has been linked to millions of premature deaths annually.
Low-carbon sources of energy, such as nuclear power and renewable energy sources (e.g. solar, wind, hydro), are becoming more readily available and can help reduce our reliance on fossil fuels.
